Steven Jackson to get light preseason workload

This should come as little surprise, but the Atlanta Falcons have no plans to overwork new running back Steven Jackson in the preseason.

With as much experience as Jackson has, there is little reason to risk injury with many preseason carries.

“Steven’s got a gazillion carries in his career," [offensive coordinator Dirk] Koetter said (via the team's website). "Coach Smith will determine how many carries he gets, but I don’t believe Steven Jackson needs a bunch of touches in the preseason. You can only run inside zone, outside zone so many times. He doesn’t need to go out there and prove himself. Preseason is live tackling and getting your running backs beat up in the preseason, I don’t see the benefit. Coach Smith will determine how many carries he gets.”

If there is any concern with Jackson, it is the "gazillion carries," as Koetter calls them, in the back's 30-year-old legs.

Jackson has eight consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards despite facing many eight-men fronts in the Rams' offense. Not quite a "gazillion," Jackson has 2,395 career carries, which leads all active players (by a lot).

With the high-powered Falcons' aerial assault keeping opposing defenses honest, Jackson could have one of his best seasons in years. In the previous five seasons, Michael Turner has a total of 60 rushing touchdowns, which ranks second behind only Minnesota's Adrian Peterson during that span.